District 27 students benefit from the generosity of International Paper Company

 

[November 12, 2019] 

In October, District 27 School Resource Officer Christy Fruge learned that the International Paper Company (Box Factory) was looking to donate $1,000 to a local organization. They were wanting the funds to stay local and to be used for good in the local community. Fruge reached out to James Eschenbach, IP site manager, with an email and explained she had recently taken on the position of School Resource Officer at District 27.

After taking this position, she quickly noticed the number of children that were in desperate need of clothing. “I was seeing kids showing up at school with shoes that did not have soles or were being held together by tape, pants and shirts that were clearly too small or way too big, no jackets, no socks, and I could go on and on!”

Fruge noted, “The school district does so much for these kids, but they cannot do everything! My hope was to get a portion of the money being donated and at least help some of these children with the things they need that their families can’t afford right now.”

After sending off the email, Fruge was shocked when she heard back a week later and found out she was not getting a portion of the money, she was getting all of it.

After receiving the check, Fruge purchased multiple hooded sweatshirts, jackets and lots of tennis shoes. “The smiles and hugs I get from these kids is unimaginable and unexplainable. When you make teenage boys cry because they are so grateful, you know you have done something special for them!”

“I personally want to thank James Eschenbach and all of the employees at International Paper for this much needed and extremely generous donation. Every hug and thank you I get is extended to all of you for helping make these kids’ lives better,” Fruge concluded.

[Lincoln Police Officer / School Resource Officer Lincoln District 27 Christy Fruge]